Steve Bell and the Change Her Legacy campaign strive to inspire this holiday season

By Ali Hardstaff

Multi-award winning musician returns to Calgary for fundraising gala that hits close to home

CALGARY –Music, poetry and humanitarianism come together for the holidays with the 17th Annual Music for a Winter Evening, in support of Oxford House and Next Step Ministries, as part of the Change Her Legacy Campaign. Juno and multi-award winning artist, Steve Bell is being welcomed back to perform at the event, accompanied by UK poet and singer-songwriter Malcolm Guite as they begin their tour together.

The all ages gala will take place at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, hosted The Legacy Family of Companies, with all of the funds going to the two local charities that focus on those recovering from addiction and abuse.

Steve Bell says he is excited to return for the event for the second time, not only because of the incredible sound and aesthetic the Jack Singer provides, the natural, unplanned dialogue and enjoyment that Guite and himself end up having when on stage together, or the “artistic and spiritual affinity” they share which makes their time together so exhilarating and enjoyable.

“This particular fundraiser, the Change Her Legacy Campaign, is personal for me,” Bell explains. “I have several dear friends and even family members who live with the kinds of vulnerabilities that Next Step Ministries and Oxford House address.”

Beyond music and writing, Bell is involved with his own humanitarian efforts, being an advocate for Indigenous rights and refugees as well as many others. He attributes these efforts to his faith, and doesn’t believe he could have any humanity himself without having this bound, love and connection to those around him.

“Christianity understands God to be a unity of mutually self-donating persons, and understands humanity to be created in the image of this divine communion. Practically this means that your joys are my joys, and your sufferings are my sufferings,” says Bell.

Money from ticket sales, as well as any donations made at the event will also go straight to the campaign to bring safety, outreach, and life changes to those in need so they may have a protected path to recovery.

“Music and poetry have a way of stirring empathy in listeners, so it is quite natural to pair concerts with various social concerns,” says Bell. “I’m always pleased if my work, which is a work of love, inspires others to love as well.”